Netflix vs Stan: Which Is Better?

Netflix and Stan are the two streaming services most Australian households end up choosing between. Netflix has the biggest catalogue and the most originals. Stan is cheaper at the top end, has no ads on its main plans, and is the home of Australian originals and live sport. So which one deserves your money? Here is the short answer, then the full comparison.

Quick verdict

Pick Netflix if you want the widest choice. It has more shows, more movies, more new releases every month, and the best kids section. Most households that can only pay for one service will get more out of Netflix.

Pick Stan if you want the best value and Australian content. Its Premium plan is $5 a month cheaper than Netflix Premium, every plan is ad-free except the $9.99 Basic with Ads tier, and it is the only place to watch Yellowstone, The Office, and a strong slate of Australian originals. Add Stan Sport for $20 a month if you want live sport, including the Premier League.

On a tight budget? Stan Basic with Ads at $9.99 a month and Netflix Standard with Ads at $9.99 a month cost the same. Stan gives you HD on one screen; Netflix gives you Full HD on two screens. For a single viewer, Stan is fine. For a couple sharing one account, Netflix’s ads plan is the better deal.

Netflix vs Stan at a glance

Prices checked 7 November 2026 on each service’s own pricing page. Prices change, so check before you subscribe.

Price: Stan wins on value, Netflix wins on the cheap plan

Netflix has three plans. Standard with Ads costs $9.99 a month and gives you Full HD on two screens, but some shows and movies are locked out and you will see ads. Standard costs $20.99 a month for the same picture on two screens with no ads. Premium costs $28.99 a month and adds 4K Ultra HD with HDR, spatial audio, four screens at once, and downloads on six devices.

Stan changed its plans in August 2026, and a lot of older guides still show the old prices. The current plans are: Basic with Ads at $9.99 a month (HD, one screen, ads, no downloads), Standard at $17.99 a month (HD, two screens, no ads), and Premium at $23.99 a month (4K Ultra HD, four screens, no ads, downloads on five devices). The old $12 Basic plan in standard definition is gone. Stan’s own help page confirms the new plans and prices.

At the top end, Stan Premium is $5 a month cheaper than Netflix Premium — $60 a year. At the middle, Stan Standard is $3 a month cheaper than Netflix Standard. At the bottom, both ads plans cost the same $9.99, but Netflix lets two people watch at once while Stan only allows one screen.

One more cost to know about: Netflix charges for sharing outside your household. You can add an extra member for $6.99 a month with ads or $8.99 a month without ads (one on Standard, up to two on Premium). Stan has no extra-member fee, but its plans simply allow fewer screens — two on Standard, four on Premium — so sharing is built into the plan price.

Content: Netflix has more, Stan has the local edge

Netflix has the biggest library of the two by a wide margin, and it adds new originals every week. If you like having something new to watch all the time, or you want to be part of the conversation when a big show drops, Netflix is hard to beat. Its range runs from big drama and true crime to documentaries, reality TV, and stand-up.

Stan’s catalogue is smaller and more curated, but it has shows you cannot watch anywhere else in this country. It is the exclusive home of Yellowstone and the Taylor Sheridan universe, plus The Office and Seinfeld on tap, and a solid run of British dramas. It also takes Australian originals more seriously than Netflix, with a growing slate of local drama and comedy. If you mostly watch a few favourite shows rather than browsing endlessly, Stan’s smaller library is not a problem.

Both services rotate titles as licensing deals expire, so a favourite show can leave either platform without much warning. Neither service keeps everything forever.

Picture quality and sound

On the top plans, both services stream in 4K Ultra HD. Netflix Premium has a small edge for home theatre fans: it supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on more titles, plus spatial audio. Stan Premium offers 4K with HDR, which looks great on most TVs, but its sound and HDR support is not quite as deep as Netflix’s.

On the middle plans, both give you HD (1080p). On the cheapest plans, both give you HD too — Stan upgraded its basic tier to HD when it introduced ads in August 2026, so there is no longer a standard-definition-only plan on either service.

Devices, downloads, and sharing

Both services work on smart TVs, phones, tablets, laptops, and games consoles, and both let you download shows to watch offline. Netflix allows downloads on two devices on Standard and six on Premium. Stan allows downloads on two devices on Standard and five on Premium, but not on its Basic with Ads plan.

Netflix’s app is a little more polished, with better recommendations and faster navigation. Stan’s app is clean and easy to use, and its search works well, but it feels a step behind Netflix. For most people this is a small difference, not a deciding factor.

Both services are month-to-month with no lock-in. You can cancel any time and keep watching until the end of the month you have paid for. If you want the steps, see our guide on how to cancel a subscription.

Kids and family

Netflix wins this one easily. Its kids section is much bigger, with dedicated kids profiles, age ratings, and parental controls that actually work. If you have young children, Netflix is the more useful service by a long way.

Stan has a kids section too, but it is smaller and less organised. It is fine for older kids who watch the same shows as adults, but it is not a reason to choose Stan.

Sport: Stan only

This is the one area where there is no contest. Netflix does not offer live sport in this country. Stan Sport is a $20-a-month add-on to any Stan plan and carries live sport including the Premier League, after Nine picked up the rights from Optus Sport. If you want a streaming service that can replace a sports subscription, Stan is the only option of the two. Note that Stan Sport carries ads during breaks in play no matter which plan you are on.

Who should choose Netflix?

• You want the biggest catalogue and the most new shows each month.
• You have kids — the kids section is far better.
• You share with a partner or housemate on the cheapest plan — two screens for $9.99 beats one.
• You have a home theatre setup and want Dolby Vision and Atmos.
• You want to watch the show everyone is talking about the week it drops.

Who should choose Stan?

• You want to pay less — Premium is $5 a month cheaper, Standard $3 cheaper.
• You love Australian shows, British drama, Yellowstone, The Office, or Seinfeld.
• You want live sport without a separate sports subscription.
• You hate ads and want the cheapest ad-free plan — Stan Standard at $17.99 is the cheapest ad-free plan of the two.
• You are a single viewer who is happy with one screen.

Can you have both?

Honestly, this is what a lot of households end up doing. Stan Basic with Ads at $9.99 plus Netflix Standard with Ads at $9.99 costs $19.98 a month — less than Netflix Standard alone at $20.99. You get both catalogues, both sets of exclusives, and you can rotate: keep one, pause the other, and swap when a new season drops. Both services let you cancel and rejoin any time, so there is no penalty for switching. If the budget only stretches to one, Netflix is the safer single pick for most households, but Stan is the better-value pick if your tastes match what it does best.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stan cheaper than Netflix?

At the top end, yes. Stan Premium is $23.99 a month against Netflix Premium at $28.99. Stan Standard is $17.99 against Netflix Standard at $20.99. The cheapest plans are tied at $9.99 a month each.

Does Stan have ads?

Only on the Basic with Ads plan at $9.99 a month. The Standard and Premium plans are ad-free for on-demand shows and movies. Stan Sport carries ads during breaks in play.

Does Netflix still have a free trial?

No. Netflix does not offer a free trial, and neither does Stan — Stan ended its 30-day free trial. Both services are month-to-month, so you can try one month and cancel if it is not for you. For more on trial traps, see can you cancel a free trial before it ends?

Which is better for Australian content?

Stan. It has the stronger slate of Australian originals and local drama, while Netflix’s Australian catalogue is smaller. Netflix still has some Australian titles, but local content is not its focus.

Can I share my Stan account like Netflix?

Stan does not charge an extra-member fee. Sharing is limited by the number of screens on your plan: one on Basic with Ads, two on Standard, four on Premium. Netflix charges $6.99 to $8.99 a month per extra member outside your household.